Welcome to the first issue of NEWMOA's newly redesigned and enhanced Northeast Pollution Prevention & Sustainability News (formerly Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention News). The content remains focused on federal, state, and local government efforts in the Northeast to advance sustainability, pollution prevention (P2), and compliance. We have changed the name to reflect a greater emphasis on sustainability in the work of our members and EPA. We hope that you like the new e-delivery format, navigation, and name, and we encourage you to send us your comments and suggestions so that we can continue to make improvements. You can also share the newsletter with your friends and colleagues by using the Facebook, Linked-in, Twitter, and email buttons.

Big Y Foods Recognized
On September 18th, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rick Sullivan presented Big Y Foods in Franklin with an Energy Recognition and Supermarket Recycling Program certificate to acknowledge their leadership in energy efficiency, recycling, and composting. The store features advanced temperature controls, efficient lighting design, and a rooftop solar array, which will offset 15 percent of its power.

Headquartered in Springfield, Big Y is one of the largest independently-owned supermarket chains in New England; they operate 66 locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts with over 10,000 employees. Big Y Foods Inc. has achieved chain-wide certification from MassDEP for the Supermarket Recycling Program, signifying that more than 80 percent of Big Y stores have programs in place to divert organics, cardboard, and shrink wrap from disposal. Their recycling program helps each participating store save thousands of dollars a year in avoided disposal costs.

Statewide services include a hotline and e-mail address to help answer businesses’ questions about starting new recycling programs or improving existing ones. The website includes a searchable recycling service-provider database and guidance materials based on material type and business sector. The Program will provide technical assistance, including site visits and workshops, for specific businesses, business sectors, and chambers of commerce. It will initially focus on increasing food waste diversion from supermarkets, colleges and universities, and hotels.

Grants for Community Groups
TURI awarded $75,000 to five Massachusetts community organizations for educating the public about safer products and methods and how to avoid the negative health effects of toxic chemicals. Project leaders will promote safer alternatives for consumers, dry cleaning shops, and hair and nail salons. The grantees and their projects are:

Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC), Fitchburg – “Green and Clean in North Central Massachusetts”

Safer Alternatives Research
TURI has awarded four grants to University of Massachusetts Lowell faculty to conduct research that identifies and tests less hazardous substances used in resins, nail polish, disinfectants, and photovoltaic processing. This year’s grant recipients are:

Chris Hansen – to investigate alternatives to a styrene monomer used to manufacture unsaturated polyester resins found in such products as bowling balls and wind turbines.

Emmanuelle Reynaud and Daniel Schmidt – to develop an alternative to nail polish made from thiol-ene chemistry and compare the performance to nail polish that contains toluene, formaldehyde, and phthalates.

Nancy Goodyear , in collaboration with UMass Lowell facilities and the Montachusett Opportunity Council – to conduct performance testing of disinfection formulations and test meters that detect residual organisms.

Meg Sobkowicz-Kline – to study processes for polymers that are used in many applications, including organic photovoltaic and thin film transistors.

The Global Chemicals Outlook examines global trends in chemical production, use, and disposal, and identifies opportunities to reduce risks to human health and the environment. It highlights the economic burdens that can be caused by preventable chemical exposures, and explores the economic benefits of green chemistry; toxics use reduction; and other innovative approaches to chemical management.